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These days we are hearing a lot from the sector of society that advocates a homosexual or lesbian lifestyle or at least supports it. Homosexuality and lesbianism are not new sins. What is new is that there is now an intentional campaign to have this lifestyle declared a normal option. This campaign is being carried on at every level and is now being introduced into some educational systems and even being debated in the church.
It is not my purpose in this sermon to put people down. Jesus said that he didn't come into the world to condemn people but that he came to save sinners.
The big question that needs to be answered these days is the practice of homosexuality sin? There are many out there who are saying that what is sin for one may not be sin for someone else, or that we have no right to condemn the behavior that we see in another person.
It is with a great deal of hesitancy that I am going to preach this sermon. I would not do it except that society is being systematically being brainwashed by those who are interested to seeing this behavior regularized.
As a minister of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ it is my duty to stand before you with the Word of God and to tell you for the record what God has to say about all of this. As you will see in a moment there are those out there that are teaching that the Bible is silent on this matter or that it does not condemn it.
What I am going to say is not against anyone but it is in defense of the Word of God is being trampled in the dust.
You might say, but Pastor, you are in a church. Why don't you go and preach this sermon at the gates of Disney World on Gay and Lesbian day. Don't unload this on us. Friends, I am going to if you want to put it that way, to unload this on you because I am ashamed to tell you that among Christians even Seventh-day Adventist there is not total agreement on this subject. There are even people who practice this sin and who defend their right to be SDA's, and there are a host of other people who are supporting them.
I don't know how many of you are into computers these days. You have heard of the internet and the world wide web haven't you? The world wide web is undoubtedly the greatest organization of information that there has ever been in the history of this planet as we know it. I am going to read you something that I copied from the Web. Listen and weep.
"Welcome to the Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International Home Page! These pages are provided to inform and educate as well as to reach out and further network gay, lesbian and bisexual Seventh-day Adventists. You will find, among other things, statements of purpose for SDA Kinship, as well as information through which one may contact the organization or its individual regions. The information is coordinated and provided as a service by Seventh-day Adventist Kinship in an effort to reach out to others in our community.
This information is in NO WAY connected to the Seventh-day Adventist Church or the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Churches.
What is Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International? Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International, Inc. is a support group which ministers to the spiritual, emotional, social, and physical well-being of Seventh-day Adventist lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and their families and friends. SDA Kinship facilitates and promotes the understanding and affirmation of homosexual and bisexual Adventists among themselves and within the Seventh-day Adventist community through education, advocacy, and reconciliation.
SDA Kinship believes the Bible does not condemn, or even mention, homosexuality as a sexual orientation. Ellen G. White does not parallel any of the Bible texts, which are often used to condemn homosexuals. Most of the anguish impose upon God's children who grow up gay or lesbian has its roots in a misunderstanding of what the Bible says.
Members of Kinship believe that being gay, lesbian or bisexual is a fact of life and a permanent part of one's personality and that one's sexual orientation, regardless of what induces it, is an unchangeable part of one's personality.
The purpose of Kinship is to provide support and friendship. Most of the members of Kinship have dealt with their sexual orientation and now avail themselves to provide support and empathy for others trying to come to terms with their sexual orientation.
A very small percentage of homosexuals who have decided either to be celibate or to assimilate a heterosexual lifestyle have been able to do so. But for the vast majority, attempts to suppress their natural orientation for a sustained period have proven unfulfilling and counterproductive, if not impossible. For some of us, investigating the possibility of change is important for our development and understanding; but almost all of us eventually come to accept ourselves as we are, rejoicing in the sexuality that is natural for us. We are homosexual as well as happy, homosexual as well as Christian.
What does the Bible say? For most heterosexuals, the teaching that homosexuality is a sin presents no problem, so they often see little reason to give the subject much thought. Many of them, victims of widespread ignorance on the subject, believe that homosexuality is merely a difficult habit to be overcome. They fail to comprehend the extreme consequences and implications such a teaching has for the lives of Christians who discover they have a homosexual orientation.
For the homosexual, there is a compelling reason to give the subject a great deal of study. Eternal damnation is too serious a consequence to merely rely on "what we've always been taught." One could hold the view that being homosexual is not a sin as long as homosexual acts are not performed. But the result--a life of celibacy--is also too serious simply to rely on what we have always heard.
Many Seventh-day Adventist Christians, from lay persons to seminary professors, have studied the Bible texts relating to homosexual acts and have concluded that what the Bible doesn't say is as important as what it does say. The Bible clearly speaks against lust in any form. But above all it does not condemn, or even mention, homosexuality as a sexual orientation.
Most people are aware that Jesus never said anything about homosexuality, but many Adventists erroneously assume that Ellen White did. Using the Comprehensive Index to the writings of Ellen G. White, we have carefully studied every published reference she makes to each of the Bible texts that people often use to condemn homosexuals. Nowhere does she relate any text to homosexuality.
Most of the anguish imposed upon God's children who grow up gay or lesbian has its roots in a misunderstanding of what the Bible says. Since Adventists are traditionally well-studied in the Bible, shouldn't they be among the first to clarify this issue for the world? "
There you have it. Friends, we have just heard a challenge. "Since Adventists are traditionally well-studied in the Bible, shouldn't they be among the first to clarify this issue from the Word?"
I whole-heartedly agree and in the time that we will spend together on this subject that is exactly what I will do. I accept the challenge. We shall indeed clarify the issue from the Word. As sin becomes more open and more belligerent it is attacking the Word. Sin used to admit it was wrong; now it is saying that the Bible is wrong.
Remember, my brother, my sister, the issue in all of this is the Word of God. So this sermon is about one thing and that is the Word. You see, our choices in the nineties are two, not three or any number but two and that is will we or will we not accept what the word of God plainly teaches concerning how God intends, yea how he insists that we live?
But lets get on with this. The people at kinship and their supporters say that scripture doesn't condemn or even mention homosexuality.
In order to understand whether something is right or wrong we must go back to the beginning of things. At the beginning, at the creation we are able to see the way things were meant to be.
In Genesis Chapters 1 and 2 and in Matthew chapter 19 ( Gen. 1:27;2:18,21-24 and Matthew 19:4-6) we learn that God created mankind in a specific manner. These texts are specific that God created them male and female with specific purposes and that was to marry, to have sexual unity and to procreate. Let's read what the Word of God says: v27, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." v18, "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 21, "And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;" v22, "And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man." v23, "And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." v24, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."
Jesus himself confirmed this when
He said: Matt 19:4-6, "And he answered and said
unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made
them at the beginning made them male and female,
And said, For this cause shall a man leave father
and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and
they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they
are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore
God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
Watch how this works now. In order to begin to understand what the scripture teaches about homosexuality the place to begin is not with the texts that reject it, but with the texts that form the basis for those other texts which specifically condemn this lifestyle.
It only stands to reason that if we are going to understand how things are suppose to be we have got to understand the way that God created them to be in the first place. When we do this it will be come clear to us why the theory of evolution is so important to the devil. Evolution destroys the image of God in man, it destroys marriage and it destroys the Sabbath. In other words, all of the things that link us to God.
I don't know whether you are aware of it or not, but the devil has almost been 100% successful in his plan to overthrow the truth. Evolution is now believed by an overwhelming number of people who profess to be followers of Jesus. When there is no seven day creation, marriage and the Sabbath are out the window.
I don't want to get into another subject, but what I am about to say is relevant to what we are going to be talking about. A question comes up and that is what are we going to do with all of the so-called "scientific" studies that they are doing this days?
I have said it before and I will say it again but we should never set out to use science to prove the Word of God. To do this is fatally flawed. In the first place to use science to prove the Bible means that science is above the Bible. And in the second place if we are going to use science as the yardstick to measure the Bible what are we going to do when science seems to disprove the Word of God?
My friends. You thought that in the last days it would be easy. Maybe you would like to think again! I have decided that I will follow the Bible no matter what and I will pray that God will give me the Grace to be faithful to His Word. I will stick with the Bible even if tomorrow someone comes up with the "missing link".
Back to the matter of creation. Unless we believe that we were made in the image of a Holy God who not only created us but who has told us how to live, we will be like a car without a steering wheel whose brakes have just let go and whose accelerator is stuck.
When we understand the way God created us to be, we can know without a doubt that the practice of homosexuality is wrong. I am now going to give you some specific reasons and after that we will look at some texts. Please remember what I am going to be saying. It will save us a lot of confusion now and in the future.
First, the acceptance of homosexuality violates the intent of our creation
God declared that it was not good for man to be alone. To remedy this situation, God created a woman as a divine complement and counterpart to maleness. Only man and woman were intended to have intimate sexual fellowship. This means homosexuality distorts and disorders God's intention in creation in creating us. The practice of homosexuality contradicts the pattern of heterosexuality at its most basic level. The practice homosexuality denies and defies the polarity of sex in a way that even the sins of adultery and fornication cannot.
Homosexuals cannot obey God's command to procreate.
In Gen 1:28 God commanded Adam and Eve and their descendants to be fruitful and multiply and fill all the earth. If Adam had decided to be a homosexual, no one else would ever have been born.
Speaking of procreation. The selfishness of this generation is incredible and there has nothing suffered more from it than the family. I remember that when I was in Africa one time. I was talking with a missionary wife. She told me that her sister had gotten married a while before. They happened to be at the wedding. She told me that she had asked her sister how many children she and her new husband planned on having. She was shocked when her sister answered, "John and I have decided not to reproduce ourselves!"
Homosexuality is a conscious rebellion against the divinely created order
In Romans 1:32 its says that homosexuals know that their behavior is sinful. Listen, "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." This text is telling us that those who continue to practice this lifestyle are in an intentional rebellion against God and the way that He created things to be.
You don't have to read the Bible long to understand that the premise upon which scripture is based is the relationship of male to female
If homosexuality was legitimate in any way, the scriptures would not be coming from a heterosexual perspective. If God intended man to be bisexual or homosexual, or if He had created man hermaphrodite, it would show up in other places in scripture. But the only standard we find upheld in the Bible is a relationship between husband and wife, a man and a woman. In several places in Scripture God is portrayed as the faithful bridegroom, and Israel, the faithful's bride. This indicates clearly that heterosexual love can be the basis for expressing the mystery of God's love to the human race. In the book of Ephesians 5:25-27 the relationship between husband and wife is compared with the relationship of Christ and the church. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."
In other words, friends, Scripture is based on the premises of the properness of heterosexuality. When homosexuality is mentioned, it is being condemned.
Homosexuality distorts the image of God
Genesis 1:27 clearly teaches that the image of God comprises both male and female. We read: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." There can be no doubt that the teaching that homosexuality is biblical and normal distorts the image of God. It is shameful and an to insult the nature and person of God himself.
Now that we have seen the way that God created things to be and how the present teaching of a homosexual lifestyle is to blaspheme the person of God, let us look at some of the texts that specifically condemn the practice. Remember the challenge. The people at Kinship say that there aren't any. We shall see.
Romans 1:26,27 is the major New Testament text on homosexuality. It also condemns lesbianism. Let's read it: "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet."
These texts are clear, yet homosexuals still argue that Paul was not condemning homosexuality per se. They say that he was condemning the Greek practice called pederasty ( which is sodomy with a boy). Some say that Paul was condemning the unnatural practice of heterosexuals turning to homosexuality. They say that when Paul argued that homosexuality was "against nature" he was arguing only that it was against the nature of heterosexuals. They teach that homosexuals do not act "against nature" but that they are actually acting in harmony "with nature" As you know they believe they were born that way. So then they believe that the practice only becomes sinful when heterosexuals engage in homosexual activities, because for the heterosexual it is unnatural.
This line of reasoning is like arguing that rape is moral and natural for rapists, but immoral for non-rapists.) Because they say that homosexuals are "born that way", they believe that homosexual practice is normal for them. But for a person who is born a heterosexual, it is a sin to practice homosexual acts.
They also argue that Paul and the other Biblical writers were ignorant of the so-called "enlightened" scientific/theological view of homosexuality that distinguishes between the homosexual act and the homosexual condition. The believe that a person who is born a homosexual is not responsible for their actions.
I don't believe that this is valid. I wonder why a man so precise and discerning as the apostle Paul never made the fine distinctions that are upheld by homosexuals. No, the text is crystal clear in what it is saying.
You may be surprised as to what the Bible has to say is the cause of homosexual sins. The homosexual sins listed in Romans are pointed out to be the consequences of an earlier apostasy and of divine judgment. Paul teaches that sin trends from bad to worse: Let's read the verses: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God heath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, spiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." (Romans 1:18-32).
Watch the downhill progression then:
- Men refuse to accept the intuitive knowledge which God has placed within them concerning Himself.. (verses18-22),
- This results in rebellion against God which is manifested in idolatry. (verse 23),
- God begins a process of initial judgment. He gives them over to their sins. (verses 24, 25),
- This produces, unnatural lusts and perversions, (verses 26-27) these result in a wide variety of additional vices and evils - (verses 28-32) just as homosexual literature and lifestyle demonstrate.
In response, God gives them over to impure lusts and the dishonoring of their bodies-specifically to homosexuality, which in turn stimulates further depravities.
According to Col 3:5 greed of any type, including sexual greed, is a form of idolatry. It is also significant to notice that in these texts that homosexual practices do not originate from the social environment, but from the human heart or inner disposition.
The inward and invisible apostasy of the heart will sooner or later becomes visible in false religions and immoral, anti-social behavior. When we reject God it opens the floodgates for lies which destroy society and turn creation into terrible chaos.
Homosexuals will often say that they do not try to get others to join their lifestyle. But Paul says that the homosexuals burn in their lusts toward one another. The NIV reads, were inflamed with lust and the amplified version translates the text were set ablaze with lust.
The late Roger Montgomery, a former homosexual who turned heterosexual testified that many perhaps a majority, of homosexuals today were molested by an older homosexual when they were a child or teenager.
I quote his own words in which he tells of his own experience. He says, "I recruited younger people, but it didn't matter to me. All that mattered to me was my sexual thrill and it didn't matter to me how it affected anyone elses' life. And knowing other homosexuals I believe the same thing is true for them. They don't care how it affects that young person's life at all. It is like an addiction. That is why most homosexuals disagree or they would violently say, "we're not recruiters, because they don't intend to. but that doesn't negate their responsibility at all because they didn't intend to they are still molesting our children. They are recruiters. and They are after your children and my children. And if they are allowed to continue they will achieve their goal."
Friends, this sin like all other sins is aggressive and represents a threat to our children and grandchildren. You may say but that is their private business. The practice of homosexuality is hardly a private business. I don't need to tell you that when your neighbors house is on fire his business has suddenly become your business too.
In other words, sexual addictions of any type cannot only be extremely powerful but extremely corrupting. This is because many homosexuals are literally controlled by insatiable lusts. This leads them into routine molestation of children even when they never initially intended to.
Before I read another something else I want us to notice Col 3:5: Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
This text is explaining that persisting in sexual sins leads to and is idolatry. Speaking of the connection between homosexuality and idolatry, listen to this. Sally Gearhart in her article "the miracle of Lesbianism", writes "We have been teased, cajoled, flattered, humiliated and even threatened-not to say actually physically coerced- into believing in the eternal, external and exclusive existence of the great father God, and in the man-made theological fabrications that surround his name. In serving the external God, we have neglected the woman-god whoever she is named, who speaks not from outside but from within us."
Gearhart also refers to the Christian concept of God as something evil and calls for a return to the feminine goddess of witchcraft;
Because they have rejected the truth and abandoned the innate knowledge that God has placed within them, the homosexual or lesbian has been given over to his or her sin. This is precisely the process that is described in Romans.
But worse, the apostle Paul further teaches that homosexuals are without excuse because they intuitively realize such acts are wrong and are worthy of death Rom 1:32 yet they deliberately suppress such knowledge Rom 1:18. They not only suppress this knowledge, but in spite of all they continue their practices and even encourage others to do so. Rom 1:28-32.
Ladies and Gentlemen, homosexuality involves a willful violation of the fundamental moral law of God, which is known instinctively by all men in all cultures, because God Himself has placed this knowledge in the hearts of all men and women.
There is another major text in the New Testament that talks about the homosexual lifestyle.
Please listen to this. 1 Cor 6:9-10 "Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanders nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."
Homosexuals have said that this text is either mistranslated or was for that time only. Some people have claimed that the word "Malakos" which means "Male Prostitutes" is referring to a general moral weakness and not to homosexuality. They also say that "arseno koi tai" which means in Greek homosexual offenders is referring to male prostitutes. And so they say this text is not talking about loving homosexual relationships.
But "mala koi" and "arseno koi tai" have specific meanings which would not be appropriate to explain here but which nevertheless are talking about committing homosexual acts.
2 Peter 2 and Jude are other texts that make specific reference to the homosexual lifestyle. We don't have to read them now.
So far we have been looking only at the New Testament. I have not even read from the old testament where it says Lev. 18:22 "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with woman kind: it is abomination". or in Lev 20:13 "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."
By now you might be thinking, Pastor O'Ffill, so what are you trying to do, stir up trouble? We are suppose to be compassionate and accepting of everyone.
I have said it before and I will say it again. We are supposed to be compassionate, but not the kind of compassion that says that "anything goes". We will gladly receive those who come to the Lord for help. We cannot do less for that is what He does for us.
I cannot help but be confused with the insistence of those who practice this homosexuality that this sin be accepted as normal. If that is the case what about the spouse abusers, the pedophiles and I could go on and on.
In another sermon I said that this generation doesn't seem to be interested in doing what God wants them to do. We reserve the right to make up the rules as we go along.
As Christians we must be committed to the standards that have been set before us in the Word of God. The issue in all of this is will we follow the Word of God or will we do it our own way.
My heart goes out to those whose dear ones my be enmeshed in this sin. I can only imagine the grief and heart ache that some of you are going through. I know something of grief and pain brought on by the sins of our children. You have heard me say that I have attended Al anon and you know what Al anon is all about.
At the beginning the Kinship organization is challenging the church to be the first to clarify what the Bible has to say about this practice to the world. And so I have. God made us male and female in the beginning. To insist on departing from the original model is a sin against the Most High. Every time the scripture speaks about homosexuality it is to condemn it. To teach otherwise is to do violence with the Word of God.
There are those who would tell you otherwise, but I believe that the gospel is powerful enough to bring deliverance from any sin out there. If this were not so then the Bible would be misleading us when it says that sin shall not have dominion over us.
They are calling for us to have compassion, but compassion must not be a respecter of persons we must also be compassionate to the spouse abusers, the rapists, and the pediphiles.
You see, my friends, true compassion doesn't not call the abnormal normal. A person who has compassion on someone who has cancer is someone who knows something of the pain and ultimate result of the disease.
If we are truly to have compassion on sinners, we must understand that without the cross of Christ they will be lost. I might say here that we are all sinners. The point is that a person that will not admit that they are a sinner cannot be saved. Jesus didn't come to condemn us but he definitely did come to save us from our sins. but a person who will not admit that they are sinning cannot be saved.
You will hear that a person who has been a practicing homosexual cannot be delivered from their lifestyle. Guess who is telling them that?
Think with me now. God has plainly told us in scripture what is sin. Not only that He has told us that if we persist in sin we will be lost. Now you tell me. Inasmuch as the word of God plainly teaches that those who persist in the homosexual lifestyle or in any sin for that matter will not be saved, then you cannot tell me that God cannot deliver them because that would make him a liar, because it says that he shall save His people from their sins.
My friends, It has finally come to a showdown. We will either believe the Word of God or we will perish in our sins. The world tells us that we are not sinners, or that if we are don't worry about it. We are going to have to decide who we are going to believe.
I believe in a powerful gospel. Our God who has made the universe. Our God who when He was here healed the sick and raised the dead. Our God is able to take the worse of our sin, our selfishness, our pride, our lust, our bitterness and resentment, our lack of self control and he is able to give us a new start. The promise is that He will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Those who don't believe that won't be cleansed, those who believe that and who submit to the process will be made whole.
Call for special prayer.
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